Human trafficking action week: 219 criminals arrested and 1 374 victims identified
EMPACT joint action days ‘GLOBAL CHAIN’ focused on cases of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging
Between 3 and 9 June, 39 countries from across the globe participated in the EMPACT joint action days against trafficking in human beings. Led by Austria and co-led by Romania, Europol, Frontex and INTERPOL, the massive operation codenamed ‘GLOBAL CHAIN’ resulted in the arrest of 219 persons and the identification of over 1374 victims, including 153 children. Aimed at disrupting high-risk criminal networks, the action week focused on cases of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and forced begging.
Building on the operation’s successful previous iterations, the proven multidisciplinary approach involved Europol, Frontex and INTERPOL along with police forces and border guards from several continents. This year, one aim was to identify and disrupt the most-threatening criminal networks active in the EU, such as mafia-type, ethnicity- and family-based organisations and other structured networks engaged in trafficking of human beings. Within the criminal phenomena of sexual exploitation, forced begging and forced criminality, law enforcement put a special emphasis on targeting cases involving children as victims.
Similar to actions carried out in the years prior, this large-scale and jointly-executed action aimed to encourage authorities to conduct targeted activities within their respective countries and collectively with each other for a week, but also to draw attention to this despicable crime. The results of these joint action days reached not only the authorities, but also many other external stakeholders who may have a part to play in reducing the number of victims of human trafficking.
Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Deputy Executive Director of Europol, Operations Directorate, said:
Close and efficient cooperation between law enforcement and border protection authorities on an international level is key in targeting those who exploit the most vulnerable among us. The impressive results of this year’s EMPACT joint action days show that the despicable crime of human trafficking is best fought together. For this, I express my gratitude to all countries and partners that once again joined forces with Europol in this global endeavour to take down these criminal networks.
Lars Gerdes, Deputy Executive Director for Operations at Frontex, said:
Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime that preys on the vulnerable and undermines our shared values of human dignity and freedom. Detecting these crimes is incredibly challenging due to the frequent absence of victim testimonies, leading to a significant number of unreported cases. This is why our international cooperation with Europol, Interpol, Austria and over 39 countries worldwide is so crucial.
Richard Chambers, INTERPOL Director, Organized and Emerging Crime, said:
Operations such as GLOBAL CHAIN demonstrate that no country or continent is immune to trafficking and exploitation. Whether committed by family members or highly-organised crime groups, the impact on victims is devastating. As a global law enforcement community, we are committed to sharing the vital intelligence needed to bring all perpetrators to justice.
276 new investigations launched
Overall results of the EMPACT joint action days:
362 suspects identified;
219 perpetrators arrested;
1 374 (1 221 adults, 153 children) victims identified and assisted;
2 074 criminal assets such as cash or devices seized;
363 fraudulent documents detected;
over 276 new investigations initiated.
In addition to the fight against child trafficking and the most-threatening criminal networks, this international law enforcement effort saw several targeted focal points against the trafficking of human beings across the world. This included actions in Latin America, Asia, Africa as well as Eastern Partnership countries and Ukraine.
https://www.europol.europa .eu/media-press/newsroom/news/human-trafficking-action-week-219-criminals-arrested-and-1-374-victims-identified